Shaft-coupling.



PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905 F.. A., MBRSHUN.

SHAFT GUUPLING.

PPLIGATTON FILED AUG. 5, 19011.

V M' 2 SHEETS-SHBET l.

N951@ QQ# N N jm No. 783,882. Y PATBNTED PEB. 28, 1905. F. A. MERSHON.

SHAFT GOUPLING.

APP IIIIIIIIIIIIII mm 4.

No. 783,882. y

UNITED STATES Patented February 28,1905.

PATENT` OFFICE. I

sHAFT-CouPLINc-r..

SPECIFICATION forming part f Lettegsfratent No. 783,882', dated February2e, 1905.

Application led August 5, 1904. Serial No. 219,679. i

To all whom ty may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. MERsHoN, a' citizen of the United States,residing at Gen mantown, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements inShaft-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a shaft-coupling having an organization ofelementsfor yieldingly connecting the extremities of shafts for reliablytransmitting fmotion from one of the latter to the other, or thecoupling may be used for connecting a plurality of shafts.

The improved coupling not only serves toV positively connect extremitiesof shafts, but also operates to prevent the weightfrom beingI thrownback upon the engine in the starting operation with material advantagesand further compensates for wear of bearings or settlngof'supports by anautomatic adjust-V ment of the parts thereofl to. irregularities inlongitudinal alinement vwithout detracting from the effective,y motionor power -of the coupled shafts. I

The improved coupling also obviates fracture of the shafts connectedthereto by sudden torsional twists, and being practically of auniversal-jointarrangementtheshaftextremi tiesdisposed at an angle mayat times be attached thereby.v

Structurally the several parts of the coupling are simple and may beexpeditiously as-` sociated and disonganizedl e i v With these and otheradvantages in view the invention consistsin the construction andarrangement of parts,l which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of ashaft-coupling embodying the features of the invention and shown appliedto shaft extremities. Fig. 2 is au end elevationof the same. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section taken about centrally therethrough. Fig.4showsdetail perspective views of the main coupling members.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several "views rifhe numerals 1 and 2 designate shaft ex`tremities to which the improved coupling is shown applied. f Thecoupling essentially comlprises two main members 3 and 4 which arespherical in form and have inner opposing coupling faces or termlnalsrespectively provided with segmental projections 5 and 6,

each of the projections 5 having one side edge 7 straight and theopposite side edge 8 concaved. l'[he projections 6 each have one sideedge 9' straight and the opposite side Fig. 1, said bore beingmaterially greater` in'diameter throughout its length than the diameterof the shaft extremity to `which it is applied, and in the said bores`segmental lwedges 12Aare inserted from the outer ends" of the membersHush with the saidends, these` wedges 12 serving as inner bushings.

To lock the wedges 12 to the shaft extremities 1 and 2. the contiguousends thereof ad` jacent to said shaft extremities are formed with key-seats' 13, half of the seat being formed in 'each end of the contiguousends of the wedges. The shaft extremities also have key-grooves 14,-onein4 eacluand after the wedges l2 have been assembled around the shaftextremities within the members 3 and et a single 4key 15 islongitudinally inserted 4in the key-seat 13 coinciding with thekey-groove 14:, the purpose of having a number of the .key-seats 13being to permit the coupling to be applied expeditiously andconveniently without requiring turning of the parts to bring a singlekey-seat in coincidence with the key-groove of the shaft extremity, andthereby avoid considerable delay in associating the parts of thecoupling with a shaft exl tremity. When the key 15 has been inserted inone of the key-seats 13 and the key-groove 14, the remaining4 wedges arespread or jammed thereby, so as to unitedly act as a securing meansbetween the coupling mem bers 3 and 4 and the shaft extremitles.

The inner edges of the wedges 12 are longitudinally straight and theouter edges inclined, and conjointly thefseries of wedges a form aninner seat which facilitates the operation of the members 3` and 4, aswill be more fully hereinafter explained. To .pre-

vent the wedgesl12` from-having endwise' movementafter they have beenapplied, they and'4 are spring plates or restorers 18, which areperfectly iiat, and each plate has bearing at opposite ends on one sideagainst the terminals'of the concave edge 8 and at the inter- 'mediateportion. of the opposite side against the convex edge 10. These springplates or restorers'permit a yielding movement of the two members 3 and4 with respect to each other, especially in the initial or startingoperation of the shafts, and prevent theV weight of the latter frombeing thrown back upon and straining the engine or motor, and afterregular rotation'ensues theparts will assume a. normal position, due tothe resiliency of the saidplates, or when-subjected at any time toasimilar operation when a torsional or excessive resistance 1s set uping( the coupled shafts to avoid fracture of the llatter and un-y duestrain on the motor. The plates or restorers 18 are taperedlongitudinally toward their outer ends, as shownby Fig. 1, and the outerwalis1'9 between the projections 5 and 6 of the membersV 3 and 4 arereversely inclined to compensate for a sagging movement of the coupledshafts, which may result from settling of the supports thereof aftercontinued use or wear of the bearings, and, further. insome instancesthis construction adapts the coupling to be used with shafts normallydisposed vat an angle with respect to each other instead of in truelongitudinal relation, as shown by Fig. 1.

To complete the universal-joint organization of the coupling, outersegmental sections 20 are regularly applied aroundthe members 3 and4 andunitedly provide an outer bushing or casing. Each segmental section- 2Oextends fully over the two members 3 and 4 in a longitudinal directionand is formed with two inner concave seats 21 to receive the two membersand permit the latter to move inwardly toward each other in the eventthat the coupled shafts sag or become depressed, as heretoforeexplained. The coupled extremities offthe shafts have' their inner endsnormally spaced apart from each other, as at vmeans set forth forcompensating for such irregular position. i

The entire vcoupling 1s inclosed by a cylindrical covering or band 23,which is continuous and held applied by a single securing-screw 24,penetrating one of the sections 20. ln

view of the fact that all ofthe sections 20 are located over the members3 and 4 it will only I be necessary to use one fastening-screw 24 tohold the cylindrical casingfor band 234 in place. The cylindrical casingor band'23 is applied endwise over the sections 20 and holds thelatterin close relation to the members 3k and 4, and in view ofthe-corresponding arcuate construction of the seats 21 and the outersurfaces of the members 3 and 4, the said sections 20, as well as themembers, will be prevented frorn having endwise movement or becomingaccidentally dissasociated. Hence the coupling when applied willremain-,in positive4 position over the connected extremities of theshafts. A'tany time `the cylindrical casing or band 23 may be withdrawnby releasing the fastening-screw 24, the sections 20 lifted outwardlyfrom theI members?) and 4, and the latter released bywithdrawing thescrews 17 and the wedges 12.

In applying the coupling `the members 3- and 4 will be first slippedlongitudinally over lthe' shaft extremities into coupling relation or soythat the projections 5 and 6 will inter- I OO' lock, and following thisoperation the wedges are inserted and secured by the .means set forth,the spring plates or restorers 18 interposed 'between the edges of theprojections,

and the sections 2O and cylindrical casing or band 23 consecutivelyapplied, as set forth. .p

,It will be understood that the parts of the coupling will beconstructed of metal best adapted' for the purpose, and, as beforeexplained, a number of the couplings may beapplied to a line of'shaftingto connect up several ylengths with Ithe advantages heretofore noted.

' By having the contiguous edges orside walls of the projections 5 and 6respectively concaved and of convex contour and engaging the spring1plates or restorers 18 in a manner heretofore set forth the said platesare permitted to yield in opposite directions to compensate for-.opposite tonsional twists, and the said plates will also be moreeffective in their resilient operatid'n. It will also beunderstood thatchanges in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus-fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1.Inashaf't-coupling, the combination with vea-ssa shafts, of interlockingspherical members su rrounding the ends of said shafts and havingreversely' -inclined contiguons edges, and means for holdingr the saidmembers in connected relation and permitting` them to have anunrestricted movement with respect to each other to yallow the shaftends to automatically adjust themselves.

2. "ln ashaft-coupling, the combination with shafts, of main membershaving interlockingr projections on their inner opposing' faces withreversely-inclined edges,part of the latter being `straight and aportion curved, and means for holding the saidy members in movablerelation to each other.

3. ln a shaft-coupling, the combination with shafts having theirterminals spaced apart v,from each other, of spherical members having;

i means at their inner opposing faces with reversely-inclined edges,part of the latter being` Y straightand a portion curved andinterlocking vvith'each' other, .and devices for holding the saidmembers in Vunrestrictedrelation with respect'to each other to allow theshafts to be automatically adjusted.

t. ln a shaftfcoupling, the combination of shafts, of. main membershaving inner opposing interlocking facesand inwardly-tapering bores, thegreatest diameter of the bores being vat the outer ends of the members,wedges longitudinally Ainserted vthrough the said bores and engaging theshafts' and forming inclined surfaces for the movements of the membersto more firmly interlock the latter at their 4innerends., and outermeansfor hloldinp; the

members in assembledrelation and forming' seats therefor'.v V o 5. lnashaft-cou pling, the combination with shafts, of main spherical membershaving inn-eiI opposing,tr interlocking faces 'reversely inclinedwithrespect to each other., means engagingthe outer ends of the said memberstoconnect the latter to the shaft ends., and outer sections held linclose'relation to the' members and havingl concave seats therefor inwhich the spherical p rti'ons of said members operate.

disposed opposite the convex faces of the projections ofthe oppositemember, resilient eleof the said wedges,

men ts .radially interposed between theconvex mitted between the 'saidprojections and the elements to permit the members to assume theposition other than-that in direct longitudinal. alinernent.

8. lnashaft-coupling, the combination with shafts, of main couplingmembershavinga spherical contour and provided with interlockingprojections at their inner opposingvterminais., yleldingplatesinterposed lbetween saidA projections, and means for holding the mem- .Ybers in assembled relation with respect tothe shafts.

9. In a shaft-conpling, the combination with shafts, of main coupling`membersof spherical contour havinninner interlocking devices, re-`silient means interposed between the said devices, and means for holdingthe said members in assembled relation to theshafts.

10. In a shaft-coupling, the combination i with shafts, 'of maincoupling` members havl ing an outer spherical contour, resilient devicesinterposed between the inner opposing terminals of the said members, andmeans for retaining the members inlassociationwith the shafts and shapedto permit movement of the said members. i

1l. 1n a shaftcoupling, the `combination with shafts, of main couplingmembers havintr an outer spherical contour, and formed withinwardly-contracted central boresand outwardly inclined.,resilient-elements interposed between the Vprojections and convergedtoward their outer extremities, and inner and outer means for holdmg'the members 1n asmeans being outwardly inclinedv towardn the ends vofthe members, 4resilient elements radially interposed between the saidmeans and interlocking* projections at their inner ends, the outer-wallsbetween the projections being tapered toward their outer ends, anddevices l for holding the members in assembled relation with respecttothe shafts. i

13. in a shaft-coupling', the combination with shafts, of main couplingmembers havof the wedges'being formed with key-seats and each of theshafts provided with a single kkeV-groove, a key inserted in one of thekeyseats to-lock each member to-one shaft, and outer holding means forthe members.

..15. In a shaft-coupling, the combinatibn with shafts, of couplingmembers having boresy therein 'of greater diameter than the shafts whichthe57 engage, the inner ends of the members engaging each other.,-wedgesinterposed between the members and shafts, bridge de- -vices enga-gingthe ends of the Wedges and membersand secured to the latter, and outerhoding means for the members.

16. 1n av shaft-coupling, the combination with shafts, of couplingmembers having bores through which the shafts extend of greatervdiameterthan the latter, the inner ends of the members being ininterlocking engagement with each other', bridge devices terminally en-4'gaging the ends of the wedges and the members, screws extendingthrough 'the bridge'devices into the. members,and outer holding meansfor the latter. i l

17. In a shaft-coupling, theA combination withshafts, of main couplingmembers having innerinterlocking ends and' outer spherical surfaces,holding-sections engaging the outer spherical surfaces of theA membersand provided with concave seats, m'eans for inclosing Y the saidsections, the inner interlocking ends of the members being spaced apartfor free movement to compensate for sagging of the relation to eachother, and means for-holdingv the sections applied to the'members.

' 19. 1n ai shaft-coupling, the combination 'with shafts, of maincoupling members having' inner interlocking extremities movable inrelation to eachother and provided with outer arcuate surfaces,inwardly-reduced 'reversely arranged wedge devices for locking themembers to the shafts, segmental sections applied over the arcuatesurfaces and each having two concave seats 4to engage the members, thesections extending .i'ull length ofv the latter, and an inclosing bandsecured to one of the sections. l

In testimony'whereot' I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit-A nesses.V

FRANK'A. MERSHON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM K. SHRYOCK, JOHN LI'rrLE.

